Which stone for this setting?

[NKOTB]

I am the lucky new owner of Big Blue's former setting, from Freke. I have two stones, both cut by Barry, that are contenders, an Afghan tourmaline and a Malaya garnet. Which do you like better? Also, should I be concerned about the tourm chipping, given that it would be quite exposed in this setting?

 

[NKOTB]

.

 

[Justin_Cutter]

I prefer the tourmaline personally.
~Justin

 

[athenaworth]

Second the tourm

 

[cm366]

Third! Don't love the warmer garnet as much in this setting.

 

[purplesparklies]

Fourth!

 

[chrono]

Such a difficult choice since both stones look great in the setting. Should I be ornery and go against the grain by voting for the garnet?

 

[pandabee]

I think both look great, but I'm partial to the colors of the tourmaline. Would you be wearing it everyday?

 

[FrekeChild]

I'm not voting.

 

[distracts]

Another for the tourmaline. I guess about chipping... be careful? Wear it on a middle finger? That's what I do with stones I'm worried about chipping, because I manage to whack rings on my middle finger slightly less.

 

[NKOTB]

Alright, so six votes for the tourmaline, one abstainer, and one rebel.

Thank you for your votes/input!

Pandabee, this wouldn't be for everyday wear, no, and I do tend to be pretty careful with my rings. I can be a bit clumsy sometimes, but take my rings off when doing any housework, etc.

 

[chrono]

The rebel normally prefers a "cold" stone to go with a "cold" metal and vice versa but in this case, the garnet works surprisingly well with a white metal setting. How do both combos work under different lighting conditions? Any stronger preference there?

 

[Enerchi]

I'm an Afghan Tourmaline vote - I just like the strong combination of that deep green with the white gold. That hits my 'WOW' button harder than the garnet does! Garnet is lovely, but I like the tourmaline on your hand.

and the setting --- FANTASTIC! Lucky you with Freke's setting!!! Congrats on that!

 

[NKOTB]

I'll have to do some different lighting comparisons, good idea, thanks Rebel.

Thanks, Enerchi!

 

[FrekeChild]

I'm an Afghan Tourmaline vote - I just like the strong combination of that deep green with the white gold. That hits my 'WOW' button harder than the garnet does! Garnet is lovely, but I like the tourmaline on your hand.

and the setting --- FANTASTIC! Lucky you with Freke's setting!!! Congrats on that!

Lol. I didn't let her get off scot free!!!!

Biding my time...

 

[JewelFreak]

Another tourm vote. It looks beautiful in that setting (great nab, by the way). The garnet needs a warmer metal imho, yellow gold maybe. I'm jealous!

--- Laurie

 

[LD]

I'm with Chrono on this - it's the garnet for me all the way. I looked at the first photo ad thought "oh I really like that" but then scrolled down, got to the fuscia pink and did a "OMG I REALLY like this"!

 

[jstarfireb]

100% tourmaline for me!

 

[chrono]

NKOTB,
Any decision yet? It seems like the majority prefers the tourmaline, which should be fine in a ring if you take extra care of it.

 

[NKOTB]

I was leaning towards the tourmaline, thinking "why fight the majority"? And it probably wins in the "all lighting" category. But then LD weighed in and I had two votes for the garnet, so thought I'd give it a better shake. I've only had a short chance to do the comparison, though, unfortunately. Hit by a bug, again, and weekends are busy with the 3 little ones home...Firm decision in the next few days!

 

[chrono]

No rush, get well first, then play around with both some more. It's tough to put your feet up with the little ones running underfoot.

 

[FrekeChild]

D says Tourmaline.

I'm torn. When I had it before I always thought about putting a big pink garnet in it (like you're considering). But I really like the tourm. And I really like the garnet.

So I still abstain.

 

[Rosebloom]

Whatever you decide it'll be gorgeous! I love them both but a slight preference for the garnet. It just pops in that stunning setting.

 

[Enerchi]

Still voting for the tourmaline, but in fairness, both are beautiful eye catching stones. Which colour do you have more of, in your jewelry collection? Which would you be more likely to wear? Which makes your heart skip a beat? Do you find that one makes your hand/skin look better than the other? or that your DH prefers one over the other? Just throwin' out ideas....

All the rationalizing in the world doesn't matter if you look at it and think "myeh" when you should be thinking "HOLY COW!! DO I REALLY OWN THAT??!!!" That's what I went thru trying to pick a setting recently and then something just flips and you decide, yup, thats *IT*! That's the one, case closed, add to cart, here's my MasterCard!

So nothing is hitting you as "IT" yet? (still plugging the tourmaline - its hitting my "THAT's IT!" )

 

[Illinifire]

Wow to both but the tourm is stunnng in that ring. Either way, it will look yummy!

 

[stargurl78]

What a tough decision! I don't think you can go wrong either way but I slightly prefer the tourm in that setting. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[jstarfireb]

For what it's worth, the reason I'm so emphatically for the tourmaline is because it seems to brighten whereas the garnet seems to close up in that setting. The tourmaline looks absolutely perfect in it. The garnet, to me, needs rose gold. I have a very similarly colored Tanga rhodolite from Barry that I put into a rose gold filigree setting from ebay, and the colors complement each other perfectly.

 

[michellechan2211]

I'm for the garnet. I don't normally like garnets (I prefer blue stones) but ... its just so pwretty <3 ^_^;

 

[MrsM]

I am going to be part of the minority, but I prefer the garnet. When I saw the first picture with the tourmaline I LOVED the color of the stone and thought the ring looked great. However, as I scrolled down and saw the garnet, my gut reaction was WOW, that definitely looks better! To my eye, the garnet and the style of the setting made a better pairing.

 

[KaeKae]

I don't usually post in Colored Stones, so I hope you don't mind my giving my 2 cents...
I just love that setting and am really loving the garnet in it.